The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-12-30

@~~~* <~ts@''- -
spon~lbic.
Rocursrr,. n. r.. Dec 12--Just before
half.past three O'Clock yesterday after
noon an EXPLOSION % gas took place ~ the
jefferson 4 Clinton mills on Mill street IN
this city. aud they were speedily snvel-
cpel In names The fire departm snt wa
summoned and soon AFR q general a. arm
was turned IN. Before the department
had reached the station a. lhe corner Of
MIL ani Pintt streets, tho entire city was
alarmed aud shaken by number Of ex-
plosions. Immediately following huge
clouds Of smoke arose from . half dozen
points ON Mil and Platt streets, and flames
burst from the windows Of tho Clinton
mill Just north Of the Woodbury. engine
company's building on Mill street. The
flames soon spread 20 ths Washington
mill which adjoins the Clinton. aud before
anything could be done 20 prevent the
spread Of the flames the rear u Whitney
& Wilson's mill was also In flames. While
the flremcn were laying line q hose 70
the burning buildings. half dor IN man.
holes which had been covered with ice
and snow. blew up Ia Mill street.
Thousands Of peopie had been attracted
BY the explosions. aud as thsy pushed
through State and fAatt streets TO ths
Dire they were brought 20 halt by other
explosions In Plat aud State streets aud
thrown into confusion. Thcy fed in
every direction. hut wherever they went
they met with repetition 81 the same
scenes. The ex ,losions continued ~ such
frequent Intervals that fhcre was no tell !.
ing where the horrors would cease. The
sidewalk OF the old furnace on Pfntt
street between State and Mill was blown
- - rrr-4.1
| The building was immc iiate.y fired. how
| ever. and flames issued from half doz,n
| holes in State street where the street
| pavem ent had been blown up.
4 By haif-past six o'clock the firc was
\ practically under control as far as the
/ mills were concerned. but the sewcr-mains
\ were sending mp columns Of flame a.
| frequent intervals. Explosions took place
| in the cellars Of all buildings on MIL
street. In Congress Hall cellar one ma
| was hurt. All along the other streets ad-
| jnccnt to Mil, explosions took place.
shortly after -four o'clock an expios ion
occurred near new sewer which is being
dug on Atkinson street. Two workmen
were thrown violently 60 the ground and
one was severely bruised. Slight ex.
plosioas are reported 10 have occurred on
Adams and fremont streets. There was
also an explos ion in West Avenue in front
OF the Buffalo. Rochester & Pittsburgh
depot. The paving stones were thrown
high in the air. Many windows in resi-
dences near the scene Of the explos ions
were broken.
INQUIRY at the Office Of the Municipal
Gas Company developed the cause Of thu
explosion. "Soverai years ago-"it was
stated. Athe Vacuum Oil Company ran q
pipe from its works TO those Of the NUM-
cipal Gas Company in order TO supply i
with naphths. This pipe line runs alonf
the bed OF the Genesses Valley Cana
three or four feet under ground AZ A.
Y kinson street the contractors were blast
ing. carelesslv, undoubtedly. and 4
this way the pipe was broken
The naphtha ran down mt
fhe outlet sewer through Cana
street into Platt. and from there into Mil
street. where IL has caused this trouble
presume twelve or fifteen thousand gal
lans OF naphtha have got into the sewers
We were informed that our gas was leak
ing. This was the first ! heard Of IN
escape. This thing teaches that contract
ors should be more careful In blasting m
der pipes The supply Of the naphtha wa
cut on Immediately by the Vacuum ~
Company. and the gas was at once cut q
from our pipes
: Some almost miraculous escapes are q
ported The engineer Of the Ci,nton M
. and two companions were sIana'ng nsa
the front OF the mill when the exp'osio
occurred about twenty ieet away -
!. three men were much trixnsensr' ~
!. were sufficiently csiected ~ sa'ne'
\ their Clothes ana escape
2 When the ircmen arrived ing 49,, -;
!. had obtained sucn = ioo'nou sn ~,
Z was utterly impossipie 70 save ~ -. 49,
mill The next puiains Va -, 49,.
= son MILL ana 70 TINS .ne n,e"on 49,
= their attention Inc names ~" op." ~.
firm foofhcid, however ana SON -
!. streaks o. nre were seen aa''1nk '"'o'
4 the Windows :,
= About this time the iroht Wal ~ =,
= Clinton mill Tell over Win Iolu $50
. narrowly missing pu.s,ns n. 4.
= the hremen ana spee' n'"'s 1890 " =.
= Shortly after TINS anotner go e1p', .s
Y occurred from the sewer man " l'ons
= the mill throwing one man Yen " 80
4 feet, and scratching race ~sse'e.s.
!. The losses 50 lar - can ~ asos s', ,a'a
I. on the burned nonr MUS ~ - '. ~, "
II >. a. n'nus. 70, = -, s,,.wm
= insurance $1,000. Davis 4 Son, sna" -. ~
n mill, loss ~p'oV,; 'nsuran ~, -
~ .r- Vauo a "a tool makers. II